Vending machine



May 27, 1941'. C E, ELUOTT. Y v 2,243,335

VENDING MACHINE BY r/u ATTORNEYS May 27, 1941- c. E. ELLIOTT 2,243,335

VENDING MACHINE 4 Filed Juneze, 1959 2 sheets-sheet 2 l ATroRN'EYs Patented May 27, 1941 VENDlIN G MACHINE Clarence E. Elliott, Kansas City, Mo., assignor to Hamilton Enterprises, Inc., Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application June 26, 1939, Serial No. 281,181

17 Claims.

v'Ihis invention relates to vending machines of the character which are rendered operable by the insertion of a coin after which one or a small number of articles to be vended may be delivered to a chute available to the operator by manually manipulating the uniquely formed and positioned feeder.

One of the important aims of this invention is to provide a vending machine having a commodity feeder which is provided with means for acting upon the vendible articles in the magazine of the machine so as to preclude jamming, solidifying, or bridging the outlet holes in the bottom of the magazine.

This invention has for a further object, the provision of a vending machine wherein is included a feeder which forms a way, the floor of which is inclined to present portions having different angles of inclination to the end that when the feeder is manually manipulated, the supply of articles in the magazine of the machine will be acted upon to maintain them in a loose condition so that feeding through the holes in the bottom of the magazine will be constant and positive.

A further object of this invention is to provide a-vending machine having a feeder of the aforementioned character, with which is associated a specially disposed flap, which flap travels in the way of the feeder above the outlet port formed in the latter, so that the articles being vended are forced along the inclined iioor of the way and back into the magazine of the machine through at least one hole in the plate at the bottom of the magazine, to the end that a given number or amount of articles are vended, and the remaining articles in the machine are moved to insure free flowing. j

Other objects of the invention will appear during the course of the following specification and become obvious to one skilled in the art. The accompanying drawings illustrate what is believed to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, and in said drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a vending machine made to embody the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical centralsection through the machine, taken on line II-II of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detailed fragmentary sectional View through a portion of the machine, taken on line III-III of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a stretch-out view of the vending machine, illustrating the component elements thereof slightly separated, away for clearness.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the pedestal with all overlying parts remo-ved.

Fig. 6 is an inverted plan view of the feeder entirely removed from the machine.

Fig. 7 is an inverted plan View of the agitator removed from the machine.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detailed sectional View taken on line VIII-VH1 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary detailed sectional View taken on line IX-IX of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 10 is a sectional view through the depending iiap, taken on line X-X of Fig. 9.

When completely assembled, the parts of the vending machine embodying the concepts of this invention, will present an appearance such as illustrated in Fig. 1. All of the-elements of the machine are held together in |a novel manner and no special tools are required to assemble the device or to replace any broken part after the machine has left the factory. In describing the different members o-f the machine, this unique quality should be borne in mind.

The base I2 has feet I4 thereon and is provided with a central hole I 6, through which passes tie-rod I8, the head 20 of which bears against the outer face of base I2. A cotter key 22 is passed transversely through tie-rod I8 at a point spaced inwardly from head 20 to preclude outwardlongitudinal movement of the rod, the upper end of which is threaded as at 24.

The upper rim of base I2 has an annular internal shoulder 26 upon which rests pedestal 28, the lower rim of which is formed to complement shoulder 26 in order to form a joint that will hold base and pedestal l2 and 28 respectively against relative movement in any direction after the machine is assembled.

Pedestal 28 has a delivery chute thereby,

parts being broken 30 formed the outer end of which is covered by a door 32 swingably mounted -about the axis of pin i 34, which passes through one end `of arm 36, the other end of which is secured to one side of door 32. Pin 34 is carried by yoke 38 mounted on ear 40 by bolt 42.

The upper Aannular edge of pedestal 28 is shouldered as at 44 for the purpose of receiving ring 46, the lower edge of which rests on shoulder 44, as illustrated in Fig. 2. 'This ring 46 circumscribes feeder 48 rotatably carried on bearing face 5I) which is a part of the transverse wall 52 cast Within pedestal 28.

A coin escape opening 54 is formed through Y wall 52 and the upper end of chute 30 is in communication with opening 56. A normally fiat, horizontal portion 58 on wall 52 of pedestal 28 is adjacent to opening 56 and serves an important part as will hereinafter be set down.

A series of ratchet teeth 60 projecting inwardly from the face of the annular side wall 62 of pedestal 28, like portion 58, cooperates with feeder 48. Shoulder 64 serves as a stop for feeder 48 when the same is at the end of its path of travel where the machine is ready to receive a coin and be manually manipulated.

.Latch 06 pivotally mounted as at 68 on wall 52 of pedestal 28, has a cam face 10 created along a portion of one edge thereof which is engaged by the coin. The nose 12 of latch 68 engages a shoulder 14 on feeder 48.

Spring 16 yieldably maintains latch 66 so that nose 12 will engage shoulder 14 as later described.

Hook 18, rigid with wall 52, is for the purpose of receiving eye 80, on one end of retrieving spring 82, the other end of which spring is fastened to feeder 48 by a cotter key 84.

An internally screw-threaded opening 06 in wall 52 receives the threaded end of tube 88 which is telescoped over a portion of the length of tierod |8, the upper screw-threaded end of which receives wing nut 90.

Feeder 48 has a central boss 92, the bore of which circumscribes the part of tube 88 immediately above bearing face 50 on wall 52. An outlet port 84 formed through the bottom of feeder 48 is between outer'annular wall 96 and inner annular wall 98, between which walls a way is created. This wayhas an inclined floor, the inclined portion |02 of which extends upwardly and outwardly in an arcuate path from one end of port 94. Another portion |04 of the :door of way |00, extends upwardly and outwardly at a greater angle of inclination but merges with portion |02 of the iioor for a special reason. This floor continues from the last mentioned portion |04 into part |00 thereof, which is flat and horizontal, yet lies between walls S6 and 98 of pedestal 48.

The central boss 92 of pedestal 48 has a radially extending part in which socket |08 is created for the reception of pin ||0 integral with agitator v| I2, the arms |4 of which are spaced apart a sufficient distance so that the articles being vended will be engaged by the sides thereof.

The outlet port 94 may be varied in size by adjusting plate H6. This plate is slotted and secured to floor of feeder 48 on the opposite side of port 34 .from inclined portion |02.

Coin slot I|8 formed in the outer annular wall 96, is in register with a similar slot |20 provided in ring 46 when feeder 48 is in the normal position ready to receive the coin. A handle |22 on feeder 48 rides in a slot |24 formed between the upper annular edge of pedestal 28 and the lower annular edge of ring 46.

A stationary plate |26 having holes |28 and |30 therein, rests upon internal lugs |32 of ring 46. A notch |34 is engaged by ear |36 integral with plate |26 when the latter is in the operative position to form a floor for'the magazine |38, which contains the articles to be vended. Plate |26 rests below the upper annular edge of ring 46 and a gasket |40 on the upper face of plate |26 is yengaged by the lower edge |42 of magazine |38 when that edge is circumscribed by the upper portion of ring 46.

A central opening |44 through plate |26 is sunciently large to permit the passage of tie-rod I8, tube l88, and thelower portion of agitator ||2.

The distance between plate |26 and socket |08 is great enough to allow freedom of movement of agitator ||2 and feeder 48 respectively as the machine is operated.

Plate |26 carries a depending flap |46 which is specially mounted as detailed in Figs. 9 and 10. This flap is so disposed as to overlie one edge of outlet port 94 and to travel thereacross as the machine is operated. Since the vending machine may be used to dispense ball gum, all of the pieces of which are of uniform diameter and also smaller pieces of gum, candy or nuts, and since the human element enters into the problem of maintaining the machine operative regardless of the position of agitator plate ||6, flap |46 must be mounted to swing to either side of a vertical position.

Fixture |48 secured to plate |26 by screws or analogous means |50, forms a bearing for pintle |52 about which flap |46 may turn. An arcuate apron |54 formed by fixture |48 has an opening |56 therein so that spring |58 may have one of' its ends positioned against one side of flap |46. The other end or" this spring |58 bears against the underside of fixture |48 and therefore yields to allow Iiap |46 to move in the direction .of arrow |60 when force having a tendency to move the flap in that direction is applied. Another spring |02 has one end thereof bearing against the other side of flap`|45 while its opposite end is against a portion of fixture |48. This spring |62 permits the movement of flap |46 in the direction .of arrow |64 when sufficient force is exerted.

rIhe two springs just described should be of equal strength so that flap |46 will remain in the normal position.

Hole |28 is elongated and its major axis is arched so as to overlie inclined portion |02 when the parts of the machine are in the normal position.

Deflector dome |66 having a neck |68 through which passes tube 88, rests upon the upper face of agitator ||2 so that dome |66 will be maintained within magazine |38 at a position slightly above the bottom thereof and overlying the said agitator. This deflector dome supports the weight of the major part of the mass of vendible articles within magazine |38 so that an objectionable pressure upon the articles passing through holes |28 and |30 will not be present.

A gasket |10 rests upon the upper edge of 'magazine |38 and yoke |12 having an annulus |14 is mounted upon this gasket as shown in Fig. 2. Yoke |12 extends diametrically across the upper part of magazine |38 and a central opening |16 in yoke |12 permits the passage of the upper threaded end of tube 88. When wing nut is in place it bears against the upper face of yoke |12.

A cap |18 closes the open upper end of magazine |38 and houses annulus |14. The depending annular wall |80 of cap |18 circumscribes the upper part ofmagazine |38 and a lock |82 enters socket of boss |04 to engage the upper screwthreaded end 24 of tie-rod |8. When key |86 is in place, lock |82 is free to turn in boss |84 so that cap |18 is drawn to place. When key |86 is removed, the bolts of lock |82 extend outwardly to engage the inner face of boss |84 and preclude movement of lock |82.

The manner in which the various parts of the machine are drawn together and held in place by each other and by tie-rod I8, is obvious to one lskilled in the art afterv an understanding of the foregoing description.

The relation between feeder 48 and parts directly associated therewith is important and when the machine is brought into use by the insertion of a coin |88 through registered slots 8 and |20, it is in place to engage cam face 10 of latch 66 and to move along said face as force is applied to handle |22 by the operator. When feeder 48 is rotated about the axis of tube and rod 88 and 8 respectivelythe coinwill force nose 'l2 out of engagement with shoulder 14 in order that outlet port 94 may be moved to register with opening 56. As this movement continues, dog |90 ratchets past teeth 60. The reason for providing dog |90 is to prevent reversal of movement on the part of feeder 48 before the articles have been fed through chute 30. Retrieving spring 82 is extended and the operator must apply sufcient pressure upon handle |22 to overcome the action of said spring. This spring yieldably maintains shoulder |92 against shoulder 64 when the machine is not in operation. ,'I'hus, shoulders I4 and |92 become stops to limit the movement of feeder 48 in one direction, while the interengagement of n |94 integral with wall 52 and the face of projection |96 integral with feeder 48 abut to limit the movement in the other direction.

When feeder 48 is in the normal condition prior to introducing coin |88, its outlet port 94 overlies portion 58 to form a cavity into which passes the articles to be vended. The articles enter way through openings |28 and |30 and in the case of ball gum, roll along inclined oor |02 into the cavity so formed.

Flap |46 is positioned labove the edge of outlet port 94 opposite to floor |02 and precludes passage of the articles beyond that point. Movement of feeder 48 to one end of its path of travel will bring outlet port 94 into register with opening 56 and the article or articles within port 94 which have rested upon portion 58, will empty into chute 30. As the feeder is moved to this said one end of its path of travel, the lower edge of flap |46.

will wipe across the top of the articles contained within outlet port 94 and will further force articles resting upon floor |02 of way |00, upwardly and outwardly from port 94 along this inclined portion |02 of the floor. Such movement will lift the articles in way |00 upwardly through opening |28, and as the feeder approaches this said one end of its path of travel, portion |04 of the foor of the way which has a greater angle of inclination will move into position beneath hole |28 to cause a greater lifting action.

Part |06 of the floor is directly beneath plate |26 and partially closes hole |28. Upon release of handle |22 by the operator, spring 82 will draw feeder 43 back to the other end of its path of travel, where the articles may again fall into outlet port 94, rest upon portion 58 of pedestal 28 and be ready for transportation to chute 30.

Since agitator |2 is directly connected to feeder 48, it will move therewith and act upon the articles contained within the lower part of magazine |38. The presence of agitator ||2 close to hole |28 supplements the upward force exerted on the articles by the two inclined portions |02 and |06 of the floor of way |00. Y

When ball gum is being dispensed through the machine, the free edge of ap |46 will drag over the upper surface of a ball which has dropped into the cavity formed by outlet port94. Any balls of gum other than the one within port 94,

`will be forced upwardly and from port 94 as heretofore described. Y

yformed thereby;

When articles much smaller than ball gum are being vended, the free edge of flap |46 will smooth off the charge which has entered port 94 and likewise force surplus articles back along the inclined oor of way |00. Plate ||6 may be adjusted to vary the size of port 94 and therefore alter the charge of articles that are vended each time the machine is operated. If plate ||6 is not in the proper position when the machine is lled with ball gum, after it has been vending articles of smaller sizes, and vice versa, flap |46 would be damaged if it were not mounted to swing to either side of its normal position, shown in Figs. 9 and 10. This peculiar type of mounting therefore is important and the presence of apron |54 is vital because it protects springs |58 and |62 and the parts related thereto against clogging when smaller articles such as salted peanuts, or the like are vended in the machine.

When feeder 48 is at the said one end of its path of travel where outlet port 94 is in register with delivery chute 30, coin |88 will drop out of coin slot |20 of feeder 48 and into the cavity below wall 52 through coin escape 54.

Regardless of the nature of the articles being vended, feeder 48 will move those in Way |00 and adjacent to hole |28 in an upward direction. No element of the machine is an obstruction to the articles so lifted and if the upward movement reaches deflector |66, it is free to move. Neck |68 circumscribes a part of the length of tube 88 and the relation at the point of contact is such as to permit freedom of movement about the axis of said tube or longitudinally therealong.

The concepts of this invention and the scope of the appended claims permit constructing machines having physical characteristics different than those exemplified in the illustrated embodiment herewith and it is therefore desired to be limited only by the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1..In a vending machine of the character described, a pedestal having a delivery chute formed thereby; a feeder having an outlet port therein rotatably mounted on the pedestal for movement to and from a position where the outlet port is in communication with the said delivery chute; a magazine for articles being vended; a stationary plate between the feeder and said magazine, said plate having holes therethrough for the passage of said articles; and an inclined floor in the feeder positioned to travel beneath the hole in said plate as the feeder is rotated, said floor having its highest portion in register with the hole when the outlet port of said feeder is in communication with the said delivery chute.

2. In a vending machine of the character described, a pedestal having a delivery chute formed thereby; a feeder having an outlet port therein rotatably mounted on the pedestal for movement to and from a position where the outlet port is in communication with the said delivery chute; a magazine for articles being vended; a stationary plate between the feeder and said magazine, said plate having holes therethrough for the passage of said articles; and an inclined floor in the feeder positioned to travel beneath the hole in said plate as the feeder is rotated, said iioor having a part disposed to cover a portion of the hole when the feeder is at one end of its path of travel.

3. In a Vending machine of the character described, a pedestal having a delivery chute a feeder having .an outlet port therein rotatably mounted on the pedestal for movement to and from a position Where the outlet port is in communication with the said delivery chute; a magazine forv articles being vended; a stationary plate between the feeder and said magazine, said plate having holes therethrough for the pwsage of said articles; and an inclined floor in the feeder positioned to travel beneath the hole in said plate as the feeder is rotated, said floor having a portion at one end thereof disposed .at a greater angle of inclination than the remaining portion of said floor and merging therewith at one of its ends.

4. In a vending machine of the character described, a pedestal having a delivery chute formed thereby; a feeder having an outlet port therein rotatably mounted on the pedestal for movement to and from a position where the outlet port is in communication with the said delivery chute; a magazine for articles being vended; a stationary plate between the feeder and said magazine, said plate having holes therethrough for the passage of said articles; and an inclined door in the feeder positioned to travel beneath the hole in said plate as the feeder is rotated, said floor having a part ,disposed to close a portion of the hole when the feeder is at one end of its path of travel, and a portion joining the hole-closing part and the remaining portion of the floor having a relatively great angle of inclination for the purpose specified.

5. In a vending machine of the character described, a pedestal having a delivery chute formed thereby; a feeder having an outlet port therein rotatably mounted on the pedestal for movement to and from a position where the outlet port is in communication with the said delivery chute; a magazine for articles being vended; a stationary plate between the feeder and said magazine, said plate having holes therethrough for the passage of said articles; and a curved way formed by the feeder extending from a point beneath the said hole to the delivery chute when the feeder is at one end of its path of travel, said way being concentric with the axis of rotation of the feeder and provided with an inclined floor, one end of which floor directly beneath the stationary plate, the other end of said iioor'being spaced below the said plate, the stretch of said floor between the ends thereof being formed to present two portions, one'of said portions having a greater angle of inclination than the other.

6. In a vending machine of the character described, a pedestal having a delivery chute formed thereby; a feeder having an outlet port therein rotatably mounted on the pedestal for movement "to and from a position where the outlet port is in communication with said delivery chute when the feeder is at one end of its path of travel, said outlet port being closed by a portion of the pedestal when at the other end of its path of travel whereby to form an open-top cavity; a magazine above the feeder; a. plate between the magazine and the feeder having holes therethrough for 'the passage of articles being vended, said holes. being positioned to cause `said articles to enter the `cavity when the feeder is at said other end of its path of travel; and a, depending flap on the plate in a position to move across the outlet port of the feeder as the latter is moved toward its first mentioned path of travel.

VI7. In a vending machine of the character described, a. pedestal having a delivery chute formed thereby; a feeder having an outlet port therein rotatably mounted on the pedestal for movement to and from a position where the outlet. port is in communication with said delivery chute when the feeder is at one end of its path of travel, said outlet port being closed by a portion of the pedestal when at the other end of its path of travel whereby to form an open-top cavity; a. magazine above the feeder; a plate between the magazine 'and the feeder having holes therethrough for the passage of articles being vended, said holes being positioned to cause said articles to enter the cavity when the feeder is at said other end of its path of travel; and a depending nap on the plate in a position to move across the outlet port of the feeder as the latter is moved toward its first mentioned path of travel, said ap being swingably secured to the plate and having springs in connection therewith for yieldably maintaining the flap in substantially a vertical position.

8. In a vending machine of the character described, a pedestal having a delivery chute formed thereby; a feeder having an outlet port therein rotatably mounted on the pedestal for movement to and from a position where the outlet port is in communication with said delivery chute when the feeder is at one end of its path of travel, said outlet port being closed by a portion of the pedestal when at the other end of its path of travel whereby to form an open-top cavity; a magazine above the feeder; a plate between the magazine and the feeder having holes therethrough for the passage of articles being vended, said holes being positioned to cause said articles to enter the cavity when the feeder is at said other end of its path of travel; and a. depending flap on the plate in a position to move across the outlet port of the feeder as the latter is moved toward its first mentioned path of travel, said flap being swingably secured to the plate and having .springs in connection therewith for yieldably maintaining the flap in substantially a vertical position, said springs being arranged to exert yieldable pressure on each side of the flap to permit movement from the normal vertical position to each side thereof.

9. In a vending .machine of the character described, a pedestal having a delivery chute formed thereby; a feeder having an outlet port therein rotatably Vmounted on the pedestal for movement to and from a position Where the outlet port is in communication with said delivery chute when the feeder is at one end of its path of travel, said outlet port being closed by a portion of the pedestal when .at the other end of its path of travel whereby v-to form an open-top cavity; a magazine above the feeder; a plate between the magazine and the feeder having holes therethrough for the passage of articles being vended, said holes being positioned to cause said articles to .enter the .cavity when the feeder is at .said other end of its path of travel; and a depending flap on the plate in a, position to move across the outlet port of the feeder as the latter is moved toward its .first mentioned path of travel, the full .edge of said flap being immediately above the face of the Wall of said feeder wherein the outlet port is formed whereby to remove .articles from the cavity as the feeder travels toward the said chute.

10. In a, vending machine of the character described, a pedestal having a delivery chute formed thereby; a feeder having an outlet port therein rotatably mounted on the pedestal for movement to and from a position where the outlet port is in communication with said delivery chute when the feeder is at one end of its path of travel, said outlet port being closed by a portion of the pedestal when at the other end of its path of travel whereby to form an open-top cavity; a magazine above the feeder; a plate between the magazine and the feeder having holes therethrough for the passage of articles being vended, said holes being positioned to cause said articles to enter the cavity when the 'feeder is at said other end of its path of travel; and a depending ap on the plate in a position to move across the outlet port of the feeder as the latter is moved toward its first mentioned path of travel, the full edge of said nap being immediately above the face of the wall of said feeder wherein the outlet port is formed whereby to remove articles from the cavity as the feeder!l travels toward the said chute, said ap being in a position to segregate the holes in the plate from the outlet port when the feeder is at the end of its first mentioned path of travel.

11. In a vending machine of the character described, a pedestal having va delivery chute formed thereby; a feeder having an outlet port therein rotatably mounted on the pedestal for movement to and from a position where the outlet port is in communication with said delivery chute when the feeder is at one end of its path of travel, said outlet port being closed by a portion of the pedestal when at the other end of itspath of travel whereby to form an open-top cavity; a magazine above the feeder; a plate between the magazine and the feeder having holes therethrough forthepassage of articles being vended; a way `having an inclined floor formed by the feeder, said Iioor extending upwardly and outwardly from one side of the outlet port to a point below one of the holes in the plate; and a depending flap on the plate closing the space between said plate and the feeder at the opposite side of the outlet port, said ap serving to force surplus articlesl being vended from the outlet port and along the inclined floor of the way as the feeder is moved toward the end of. its first mentioned path of travel.

12. In a vending machine of the character described, a pedestal having a delivery chute formed thereby; a feeder having an outlet port therein rotatably mounted on the pedestal for movement to and from a position where the outlet port is in communication with said delivery chute when the feeder is at o-ne end of its path of travel, said outlet port being closed by a portion of the pedestal when at the other end of its path of travel whereby to form an open-top cavity; a magazine above the feeder; a plate between the magazine and the feeder having holes therethrough for the passage of articles being vended; a way having an inclined floor formed by the feeder, said floor extending upwardly and outwardly from one side of the outlet port to a point below one of the holes in the plate; and a depending flap on the plate closing the space between said plate and the feeder at the opposite side of the outlet port, said ap serving to force surplus articles being vended from the outlet port and along the inclined floor of the way as the feeder is moved toward the end of its first mentioned path of travel, said flap being swingably secured to the plate and having springs in connection therewith for yieldably maintaining the flap in substantially a vertical position.

13. In a vending machine of the character described, a pedestal having a deliveryv 'chute formed thereby; a feeder having an outlet port therein rotatably mountedvon the pedestal for movement to and from a position where the outlet port is in communication with said delivery chute when the feeder is at one end of its path of travel, said outlet port being closed by aportion of the pedestal when at the other end of its path of travel whereby to form an open-top cavity; a magazine above the feeder; a plate between 4the magazine and the feeder having holes therethrough for the passage 0f articles being vended; a way having an inclined floor formed by the feeder, said floor extending upwardly and outwardly from one side of the outlet port to a point below one of the holes in the plate; and a depending iiap on the plate closing the space between said plate and the feeder at the Opposite side of the outlet port, 4said flap serving tofforce surplus articles being vended from the outlet port and along the inclined floor of the way as the feeder is moved toward the end of its firs-t mentioned path of travel, said floor of the way having a portion near the end thereof remote from the outlet port which has a greater angle of inclination than the remaining portion of the iioor.

14. In a vending machine of the character described, a pedestal having a delivery chute formed thereby; a feeder having an outlet port therein rotatably mounted on the pedestal for movement to and from a position where the outlet port is in communication with said delivery chute when the feeder is at one end of its path of travel, said outlet port being closed by a portion of the pedestal when at the other end of its path of travel whereby to form an open-top cavity; a magazine above the feeder; a plate between the magazine and the feeder having holes therethrough for the passage of articles being vended; a way having an inclined floor formed by the feeder, said floor extending upwardly and outwardly from one side of the outlet port to a point below one of the holes in the plate; and a `depending flap -on the plate closing the space between said plate and the feeder at the opposite side of the outlet port, said flap serving to force surplus articles being vended from the outlet port and along the inclined floor of the way as the feeder is moved toward the end of its rst mentioned path of travel, said floor of the way having a portion near the end thereof remote from the outlet port which has a greater angle of inclination than the remaining portion of the floor, the said one hole in the plate being elongated to overlie the major part of the said remaining portion of the iioor `when the feeder is at the said one end of its path of travel.

15. In a vending machine of the character described, a pedestal having a delivery chute formed thereby; a feeder having an outlet port therein rotatably mounted on the pedestal for movement to and from a position where the outlet port is in communication with said delivery chute when the feeder is at one end of its path of travel, said outlet port being closed by a portion of the pedestal when at the other endof its path of travel whereby to form an open-top cavity; a magazine above the feeder; a plate bedepending flap on the plate closing the space between said plate 'and the feeder at the opposite side of the outlet port, said flap-serving to force surplus articles being vended from the outlet port and along the inclined floor of the way as the feeder is moved toward the end of its first mentioned path of travel, said floor of the way having a portion near the end thereof remote from the outlet port which has .a greater angle of inclination than the remaining portion of the floor, the said one hole in the plate being elongated to overlie the major part of the said remaining portion of the iioor when the feeder is at the said one end of its path of travel, the po-rtion of said oor having the greater angle of inclination being below said elongated hole when lthe feeder is at said other end of its path of travel.

16. In a vending machine of the character described having a magazine provided with an outlet hole in the bottom thereof, a movable feeder below the hole to eject given amounts of the articles being vended; an inclined floor on the feeder movable beneath the hole to lift the articles upwardly through the hole as the feeder is being moved; and a deector dome Within the magazine -to support part of the mass of the articles in said magazine, said dome being mounted for free vertical movement to and from its normal position.

1'7. In a. vending machine of the character described having la magazine provided with an outlet hole in the bottom thereof, a movable feeder below the hole to eject given amounts of the articles being vended; am inclined floor on the feeder movable beneath the hole to lift the alrticles upwardly through the hole as the feeder is being moved; and ya -deiiector dome within the magazine to support part of the mass of the articles in said magazine, said dome being formed to direct the articles outwardly and downwardly toward the wall of the magazine above the hole in the bottom thereof, said dome being mounted for free vertical and rotary movement.

CLARENCE E. ELLIOTT. 

